Children of the Future.

Today, I made my way to my nieghbor's house which is about three miles away.  Since I knew heavy rains would be upon us, I decided to saddle up my horse, Spirit, and made my way early.

My neighbor is an excellent artist who makes guitars by hand. Truly a craftsman, his guitars are bought by greats like Eric Clapton. He is also a pretty good chili cook. His house is adorned with local art that screams the Mexican and Native American influence.

That is another reason why I love it here. I think almost everyone that I have met is an artist in one way or another. Schools and even parents make sure their children are introduced into the world of expression.

I have never lived in a place where children are more educated into the arts and the world around them. However, the children here are also the poorest in the state. But I warn those who will listen, these children will rise up not to live in the same poor environment but to stand up and do something about it. That it would be the game that is played around us and I wouldn't be surprised that one of these kids would rise to be out President  and actually do something FOR this is country, not just for him or herself.

I remember the quote that states that 'the old appeals to racial sexual and religious  chavuamsim to rabid nationalistic fervor are beginning not to work. A new consciousness is developing which sees the Earth as a single organism and recognizes that an organism at war with itself is doomed.'

But those kids' are so powerful that they'll leave people like myself and my artist friends in the dust.

Do you ever wonder what we will leave these children with? Do you think about that? Or is it easier to turn a blind eye?

Well, my time is gone. I've bedded my animals down, took the dogs (I really must take photos of my companions that they look as unkempt as the rest of us) inside so they could rest on the sofa. The wind is picking up and the coolness of sundown has now retreated into downright cold. My neighbor send me home with new guitar strings and a large container of chili for the night's event; that being reading several books that I need to write reviews. Well, a girl's gotta work.

Stay warm my friends.

Marfa and Independence

After last night's post, I felt as if I sounded like a sad and lonely woman. Someone who would sit at their kitchen window silently whining about how their life didn't turn out the way it was supposed.

Well that's not me at all. I moved here to escape the stress of the fast paced life of city life and of being in the music industry. I CHOSE to be in this area. I'm a single woman who 1)not looking for a mate, 2)not looking for a new career and 3)don't need anyone to pay my way or to fix anything from my pickup to my heater.

I find it's amazing how so many of today's women feel a 'need' to have a man around because they don't feel that they can't do everyday chores. There are plenty of successful businesswomen that I've known that could handle millions of transactions and multi million dollar contracts but can't change a tire. Then again, being raised in the Abilene area, I wouldn't know how not to do something. My life was a typical country existence with the knowledge that you're not rich but didn't miss it at all. But more of that for another time. It definitely taught me how to be self-sufficient. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean that I'm helpless.

Anyway...I thought that there was a need to correct this. Stop whining woman and get out there! And that is just want I do. New friends in the disguise of teachers, joined me in an adventure to Marfa.

This is actually in a town of Valentine. But it appears to be a real Prada story but like looking down the asphalt and thinking you see water. This is a mirage as well. Inside a permanent shoes, bags and whatnot. But no entry people. This, my friends, is consider 'art' not retail.

Marfa, which was about a half an hour away, is a unexpected place for art; but art it is.

Even some of the buildings have an artistic flair. How many pink art deco fire stations do you know of?

Doesn't this Chinati Foundation sculpture just scream West Texas?

Of course, Marfa is not only famous for its mysterious lights but for many and various art galleries. From very modern to children's art (photo seen below) to the obscure (how many towns has a Prada boutique that is really art?). 

 This is the mysterious Marfa lights. Personally , I must say that it does look like alien-type orbs. They move so fast!

 So much for sounding sad and helpless. I will sleep well due to what my niece calls, an adventure. Adventure indeed.  Far more exciting than sleeping all day, playing for a couple of hours and then back to a hotel room to an exhilarating night of late night television. Give me alien lights and fake Prada stores anytime.

Hágoónee'

Coyotes and Tarot

It's a chilly night at about 40 degrees. Across my back porch is the sound of a coyote searching for true love while the cool breeze entices that desert grass to make a humming sound that has an hypnotic state to it.

As nature makes it's own music, I sit playing with a worn set of Tarot cards. Tarot has always intrigued me.

These cards only came in use a divinatory since 1540 but it is still played as normal card games. After years of being bored on tour buses, this form of fortune telling kept me occupied for hours on end. I was always intrigued how just the display of these cards would bring interested parties quickly gathering around to have the 'fortune read'. 

Through equally as bored and inebriated band mates, I became pretty good, if I do say so myself.

Now it's become a point of interest for the Native children and their teachers. But I keep doling away at it. The kids are anxious to learn since the Navajo tradition has nothing like it. However, I find it funny that there is a local fortune reader off the rez that makes a bundle off of the native people.

Well, the coyotes sound closer and the dogs are getting restless.

Hágoónee'(goodbye in Navajo)